Conservative party chairman and Filey MP Kevin Hollinrake has outlined his opposition to the installation of solar panels on prime farmland.
Mr Hollinrake stated:
"Very concerned about the proliferation of solar developments on agricultural land. Totally the wrong place for them. Best and most versatile land needs are quite clear in planning rules that we should avoid wherever possible best and most versatile land. Yet we see application being considered and being passed on the basis that we also got a climate emergency.
"What a local authority is doing taking a climate emergency into account, that's a responsibility of national government, is just beyond me, and that was something Ryedale did in council as well as North Yorkshire seems to be taking that into account. I think it's totally wrong."
While solar energy is crucial for climate goals, some groups argue that prioritising prime farmland for large-scale solar farms creates conflicts with food production and local environments, suggesting better alternative locations exist.
Mr Hollinrake added:
" I don't think anybody is against a transition from a fossil fuel environment to other forms of energy production on a mixed basis. We all need other things like gas for decades, so we shouldn't be averse to gas exploration or nuclear and a variety of different solutions, move towards decarbonisation of the grid.
"I'm not against that. It's very clear in planning rules that solar developments, ground mounted solar, should avoid best and most versatile areas, which are grades of land from 1 to 3A. So I think food security should outweigh the need for energy security when it comes to productive farmland. That's my point and cumulative impact, in terms of our areas as well, should be taken into account. I don't think that's been sufficiently taken into account by recent correspondence I've seen from North Yorkshire Council."
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